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Upon
an application's arrival at the ICAMRL office, it is unpacked
and organized in color-coded folders. Once key data is entered
into the database, the application is then assigned an identification
number and filed in a holding area.
Once
the application is placed in the holding file, it is ready to
undergo an in-house review of the organization application and
a general review of the remaining application sections to assess
the completeness and appropriateness of the materials submitted.
This is not a review of the technical components of the application.
If obvious information has not been included in the application
(e.g., CME information is incomplete or an inappropriate number
of case studies is submitted), the ICAMRL staff contacts the
laboratory to request needed information. It is advantageous
to the laboratory to send this information as soon as possible,
so that it can be included with the application before it is
sent to the Application Reviewers. This in-house review of information
does not ensure that the Board Of Directors will not request
more information, but it does assist in avoiding some unnecessary
delays to a laboratory's accreditation.
The
ICAMRL accreditation process functions on a quarterly schedule:
application deadlines are the first of January, April, July,
and October (or the first working day of the month if the
first day falls on a weekend or federal holiday). Following
the deadline, the ICAMRL staff tabulates the number of applications
to be reviewed. A staff member contacts the ICAMRL Application
Reviewers and applications are assigned according to each reviewer's
availability and expertise. All Application Reviewers are employed
in accredited laboratories, are credentialed and have attended
an invitational training workshop with the ICAMRL. Reviewers
include physicians and technologists.
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